Apparatus for vaporizing liquid fuel



Dec. 12, 1933. A, H, MASTERS APPARATUS FUR VAPORIZING LIQUID FUEL 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 28 @Ell Dec. 12, 1933. A, H. MASTERS 1,939,270

APPARATUS FOR VAPORIZING LIQUI) FUEL Filed April 28, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 12, 1933 APPARATUS FOR VAPORIZING LIQUID FUEL Arthur H. Masters, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application' April 28, 1927. Serial No. 187,230

, 3 Claims.

the like.

It has been proposed to treat liquid fuel in various ways so as to simplify the problem of accurately controlling the fuel supply to the consuming device. For example, Diesel engines inject the fuel in spray or liquid form, and dimculty is experienced in closely regulating the quantity of fuel injected, this being due in large measure to the collection and subsequent dripping of fuel at the injection opening. If the fuel is preliminarily vaporized, the control problem is materially simplified, since a larger volume is being handled, and therefore, more accurate control can be had. The drip problem is entirely eliminated.

Difiiculty has been experienced with fuel vapor'izers as heretofore constructed, due to carbonization of the fuel in the heater and due to lack of suitable control means. I provide for supplying the liquid fuel to an insulated heating chamber through a porous banle or diaphragm. The fuel is supplied under pressure substantially in excess of atmospheric pressure and is well distributed through the heating chamber by reason of the presence of the porous baille. Electrical heating means is preferably employed and suitable controls are provided. These controls include a thermal switch for regulating the current supply, a pressure-operated valve for controlling the liquid fuel so as to regulate or control the vapor pressure in the gasifying chamber, and a main inlet valve which is linked with the outlet valve for vaporized fuel. By reason of Athe fact that the inlet and outlet valves are operable together, the fuel supply is regulated in accordance with the demands on the apparatus. In order to provide an initial supply of liquid fuel for vaporization, a bypass is arranged around the fuel inlet valve so as to permit of supplying fuel to the heater without opening the outlet valve.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate more or less diagrammatically a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a schematic view showing a complete system for transforming liquid fuel to vapor fuel;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the heater proper; and

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line III- III of Figure 2.

Referring first to Figure 1: There is shown a liquid fuel tank 2, having an inlet 3 and an outlet 4. The outlet 4 is connected to a pump 5,

which supplies liquid fuel under pressure through a conduit 6 to a pressure tank '1. The pressure tank is provided with a gauge and a bell 9 for equalizing the pressure.

The pressure tank 7 is connected through the 60 conduit l0 to the 'heater 11. The conduit 10 contains a fuel inlet valve 12 arranged for manual or automatic operation, depending upon the quantity of fuel required. The liquid fuel passes through the conduit 10, to a chamber 13, at the bottom of the heater 11. The top of the chamber 13 is formed of a porous baille or diaphragm 14, through which the fuel must pass before it reaches the gasifying chamber proper. Heat is supplied by resistance elements 15, supplied with electric current from wires L1 and L2. A main switch 16 is provided for controlling the current.

A thermal switch 17 is placed in the circuit, this switch being arranged to be opened or closed by a thermostat 18, arranged within the vaporizing chamber proper. If the temperature within the chamber rises in an undue amount, the switch 17 will be opened until the temperature drops. at which time it will automatically close. If desired,

a pressure-operated switch may be used to regulate the current supply. A pressure-operated safety valve 19 is provided in the conduit 10. This valve is normally held open by a spring 20, which is arranged to be closed when pressure on a diaphragm 21 rises above a predetermined amount. 85 The top of the diaphragm 21 is connected through a conduit 22 to the gasifying chamber of the heater 11. If the pressure becomes excessive, the supply of fuel from the pressure tank 'l is reduced or stopped.

The operating handle on the fuel inlet valve 12 is actuated through a link 23 and the operating handle of a control valve 24. The control valve 24 is arranged in an outlet conduit 25, through which the vaporized fuel is taken to the fuelconsuming device. The valve 24 constitutes the main control valve for the apparatus and will be opened or closed in accordance with the requirements of the fuel-consuming device. Normally, the valve will be neither fully opened nor fully closed, but in an intermediate position, depending upon the amount of fuel required. By reason of the link 23, the fuel valve 12 will be correspondingly adjusted. As a result there will be a throttling action at the valve 12 and also at the valve 24, so that the liquid fuel will be supplied to the heater 11 in an amount corresponding to the requirements for gasified fuel.

When the apparatus is first put into use, it will be necessary to supply some quantity of liquid fuel to the heater, and at the same time, keep the control valve 24 closed so that an initial pressure may be built up. A bypass 26 connects the conduit l0 with the chamber 13, independently of the fuel valve 12. The bypass 26 has a valve 27 therein. This valve will be normally closed, but when the apparatus is first put into operation, the valves 12 and 24 will be closed and the valve 27 will be opened so as to supply liquid fuel for building up an initial pressure.

The liquid fuel supplied to the vaporizing chamber is vaporized therein and raised to a high temperature so that the resulting vapor will not readily condense and can be carried some distance before it is used or consumed. By utilizing the vapor pressure generated in the charnber, I am able to take advantage of the marked reduction in the heat of vaporization of the liquid fuel which results from the pressure generated. Thus, much less heat is required to vaporize the liquid fuel than when the operation is carried out, as heretofore, at substantially atmospheric pressure.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the heater 11 in more detail. The control valve 24a is shown in the form of a plate lying on top of the cover 28 of the heater 1l. The valve member 24a and the plate 28 each have openings 29 formed therein. The valve member 24a is arranged for rotation on a central shaft 30. Rotation of the shaft 30 will vary the outlet area through which the vaporized fuel may pass. The shaft 30 carries a bevel gear 31, meshing with a gear 32 on the stem of the fuel valve 12a.

The heating chamber proper is made of metal 33, covered by insulating material 34, and the top cover 36 is similarly insulated, as indicated at 37. The outlet pipe 25 extends from the top flange of the cover 36 and is also insulated. In addition to this insulation, it is provided with an electrical resistance 38, for supplying heat to the gasiiied fuel at the desired temperature.

It will be noted from Figure 2 that the electrical resistance element l5 is separated from the heating chamber proper by a wall 33a. Since this wall is of relatively thin metal and the chamber is well insulated exteriorly. there is no material loss of heat.

I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of the invention. It will be understood, however, that it is not limited to the form shown, as it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims,

I claim:

1. Apparatus for treating liquid fuel to produce a dry vapor, comprising a thermally insulated vaporizing chamber having a free vapor space, an inlet for liquid fuel, an outlet for vapor, valves controlling the inlet and outlet, a connection between the valves for adjusting them correspondingly, means for supplying liquid fuel to the chamber while said valves are closed, and means for heating the chamber to create a vapor pressure therein substantially above that of the atmosphere.

2. Apparatus for treating liquid fuel to produce a dry vapor, comprising a thermally insulated chamber having an inlet and an outlet, valves controlling said inlet and outlet, means for initially introducing a small amount of liquid fuel into said chamber while said valves remain closed, and means for heating the chamber with the valves closed to create a. vapor pressure therein substantially above that of the atmosphere.

3. In a system for supplying vapor fuel from a source of liquid fuel, a fuel supply line, a thermally insulated vaporizing chamber therein having a large free vapor space, inlet and outlet valves for said chamber, means for initially supplying a small amount of liquid to said chamber, means for heating the chamber to vaporize the liquid therein and produce a vapor pressure sufficient to reduce substantially the heat of vaporization of liquid subsequently supplied, and means for supplying liquid fuel from said source to said chamber against the pressure created therein.

ARTHUR H. MASTERS.

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